Dental Checkup
No Judgement Here, just dental checkup
Ideally, you should be going to our dentist for a check-up every six months. However, we all know that this isn’t always possible. A dental checkup is something that often just gets away from us. So it’s not uncommon for people to wait as long as five years between dentist visits.
Sometimes putting off a visit to the dentist can be self-perpetuating, because one might feel embarrassed for putting it off for so long. Or, you may simply just not want to go to the dentist, because you’ve had some terrible experiences in the past.
Regular dental Check-Ups, Teeth Cleaning and preventative dental care are important in maintaining healthy teeth and gums, not just for you but all the members of your family.
It doesn’t matter what the reason may be for not having regular checkups; we will always treat our patients with understanding and respect. Many times the people who think they have the worst dental problems turn out to need very little treatment or none at all.
Our goal at OptiSmile is to keep the need for you to have dental treatment to a minimum so that we can give you and your family’s smiles the best opportunity at staying a healthy space.
So please don’t worry. We’ll handle you with the utmost care. At OptiSmile, there’s no judgement, and you’re always in the safest of hands.
Emergency Appointment
An injury to the mouth could potentially be very serious and should not be ignored.
At Optismile, our dentists are uniquely qualified to assist in emergency cases and restore function quickly and effectively, minimizing the risk of permanent damage and further treatments at a later stage. In case of emergency, we aim to see the patient as quickly as possible and preferential appointments will be given.
If you have a dental emergency; such as toothache, a chipped or lost tooth or objects stuck in the teeth, you can immediately contact our dentists on dedicated WhatsApp lines. They will respond as quickly as possible and will advise you on how to minimize the damage until an appointment can be scheduled.
There are a few rules of thumb to follow in case of a dental emergency:
- If a tooth has become detached, you should try to keep it moist until your appointment – soaking it in milk is usually the best option.
- If you have a cracked or chipped tooth, rinse the mouth with warm water to keep it clean and apply a cold compress to minimize the swelling.
- Toothaches can be indicative of a more serious dental issue so it is important to schedule an appointment and have the affected area thoroughly examined. Do not apply aspirin directly to the teeth or gums, but rinse the area with warm water regularly to keep it clean until you are able to see us.
The best thing to do in case of a dental emergency is to visit us at our practice in Sea Point. Dental emergencies should not be taken lightly, and our specially trained dentists will help you get the best possible outcomes by assisting you as quickly as possible so the damage is minimized.
- Why Are Regular Check Ups Important?
A dental check-up will enable a dentist to verify whether you have any dental problems or potential problems that may require attention. Many times finding a problem early on can avoid it becoming a more painful and costly issue. Even if there is no real dental repairs or work required on your teeth, it’s always good to have a thorough clean and to just be able to talk to your dentist about any worries you may have.
A dentist will sometimes advise you on better dental care habits going forward and whether what you’ve been doing up until now has been the best way to look after your teeth and gums.
- What Does A Check Up Involve?
A standard dental check-up isn’t likely to be painful, but it also depends on why you’ve come to the dentist. If you’re coming to OptiSmile for a particular problem then dealing with the issue will be the first step for your dentist. Generally the dentist will do the following during a standard check-up:
- Ask about your health and whether you’ve been experiencing any problems since your last visit to the dentist
- Examine your mouth, teeth and gums
- Do a 3D dental X-ray, if required
- We also take digital photos of your mouth
- Do a clean if required & deal with any immediate problems
- Give you advice on your dental health going forward, but also on lifestyle factors that can impact your teeth and gums
- Discuss when you’ll need to come in next, if it’s sooner than the recommended check-up dates. Sometimes additional appointments may be required as a result of your check-up.
Prior to your check-up you are also free to speak to us via WhatsApp, email or phone, so there aren’t any surprises. This will be particularly useful if you are feeling a little uneasy about your prospective visit.
Why Come to OptiSmile?
We take particular care to ensure that our procedures are as minimally invasive and painless as possible. This is why we use the Numbing Wand to avoid gum sensitivity, which can be a problem, even during a standard check-up where we just do a clean.
We’d rather have patients come in for their check-up than worry about a dentist telling them off for not having come to a dentist sooner. This way we can prevent any minor problems from causing you physical and financial difficulty in the future, because it wasn’t dealt with early enough.
The idea that we’d always rather preserve a patient’s natural teeth forms that basis of everything we do at our practice. Our experienced team has seen it all and is geared towards finding the best dental solution for each patient using the best international dental technology available.
We are also open to questions prior to your consultation as well via WhatsApp, email or phone, so you can get an idea of what to expect from our head dentist before you even come for your appointment.
Call to book your appointment today. Don’t overthink it. Going to the dentist doesn’t have to take up a huge chunk of your day and once it’s done you can rest assured that your smile has had the best care possible.
